Political Punch

White House Heralds Iraq Election Law

ABCNews.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:59:06 -0500

Calling it a "significant breakthrough," President Obama praised the vote by Iraq's Council of Representatives allowing for parliamentary elections in January 2010 calling it "an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future."

Obama Political Arm Says GOP House Members Caved to Insurance Lobby Pressure

ABCNews.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:18:18 -0500

President Obama's message to supporters on the "Organizing for America" email list may have been positive (if financially solicitous), (link to earlier blog today) but the director of his political arm was under no such apparent guidance.‬‪ ‬‪

Within House of House Health Care Legislation Passing, President Thanks Supporters, Asks for Money

ABCNews.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:21:03 -0500

Within a couple hours of the Democrats' health care reform bill passing the House last night, President Obama sent out an email to supporters via his former campaign committee, now called "Organizing for America."

Obama Praises "Courageous" House Vote

ABCNews.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:17:29 -0500

ABC News' Rachel Martin reports: He’s not taking a victory lap yet but today the President praised what he called an “historic” vote by the House of Representatives last night. “For years we've been told that this couldn't be done. After all, neither chamber of Congress has been able to pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill for generations,” the President said in remarks today in the Rose Garden, “But last night the House proved differently.”

Fmr. President George W Bush Visits Ft. Hood, Visits Soldiers Wounded in Thursday Shooting Rampage

ABCNews.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:11:22 -0500

Former President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush made a private visit to Darnall Army Medical Center at Ft. Hood Friday evening. The former president and first lady visited with soldiers wounded in the incident on Thursday, as well as some of their family members.

Obama on Health Care Reform: 'This Is Our Moment'

ABCNews.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:14:50 -0500

ABC News' Rachel Martin reports: President Obama made an 11th hour pitch to Congress today, urging members of the House to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill. He made a rare personal appearance on Capitol Hill this morning and...

Wave After Wave of Bad News

ABCNews.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:50:06 -0500

The White House announced today that on Tuesday the president and first lady will travel to Fort Hood, Texas, for a memorial service. It’s been a rough week for the country and so it’s been a bad week for the...

Obama: Fort Hood Shootings Show 'Worst Of Human Nature' but also 'Best of America'

ABCNews.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:49:01 -0500

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Calling Thursday’s shooting in Fort Hood, Texas one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base, President Obama said that while “the worst of human nature was on full display” the “best...

Lunching With the Pundits

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:12 -0500

President Obama had lunch today with eleven reporter/columnist/editor/pundit-types. Those present were: Mike Allen of Politico; David Brooks of the New York Times; Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post; Gail Collins of the New York Times; Howard Fineman of Newsweek; David...

Twitterview with Roland Burton Hedley Jr.

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:53:41 -0500

Earlier today, I had a chance to conduct a twitter interview with Fox News Channel’s Roland Burton Hedley, Jr., who has a new book out – a collection of his best tweets from 2009. (You may know Hedley best from his appearances in Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury, of course.)

Dr. Jill Biden on Veterans Day: 'Remember that each of us has the ability to make a difference in the life of a service member'

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:19:12 -0500

Dr. Biden writes that she and the vice president will visit Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day and spend time with veterans and soldiers in order to show their thanks.

Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 11/6/2009

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:17:22 -0500

Jake Tapper asks Press Secretary Robert Gibbs about health care during the White House briefing.

President Obama Attempts Reassurance on Ft. Hood Shootings, Unemployment

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:30:33 -0500

On a chilly morning, President Obama came to the Rose Garden Friday morning to try to offer reassurance in the wake of both the Fort Hood shootings and dismal economic news, suggesting -- regarding the latter issue -- that he was considering even more economic stimulus measures.

The Presidential Planner

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:31:55 -0500

President Obama will formally sign into law the “Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009,” in the Oval Office this morning. The law will extend unemployment benefits by 20 weeks in states hardest hit by the economic downturn and by 14 weeks everywhere else. It also extends an $8,000 first-time home buyers tax credit to homes placed under contract by the end of next April.

President to Formally Back House Democrats' Health Care Bill

ABCNews.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:21 -0500

The White House will today issue a Statement of Administration Policy today endorsing the health care reform legislation from House Democrats. It will not be a signal that the president favors the House bill over the one from Senate Democrats,...

President Obama to Visit Walter Reed Friday

ABCNews.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:47:33 -0500

White House officials tell ABC News that President Obama will visit with wounded soldiers tomorrow at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The trip was scheduled before the incident today at Fort Hood, officials said. President Obama visited wounded troops at...

Iranian Protestors Call to President Obama for Support

ABCNews.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:20:12 -0500

ABC’s Jordyn Phelps reports: Marking the 30th Anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover, protestors took to the streets in Tehran, Iran on Wednesday. The common “Death to America” chants were used by pro-government protestors, but there was also a very...

President Obama Speaks to Fort Hood Commanding General

ABCNews.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:56:47 -0500

In the Oval Office just now President Obama was briefed on the phone about the shooting at Fort Hood by the Army base’s commanding general, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone.

President Obama Speaks About Fort Hood Tragedy

ABCNews.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:24:16 -0500

From Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller: “As some of you might have heard there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas,” President Obama said this afternoon at the Department of Interior, speaking at a...

First Lady Plays Game Show Host at Department of Energy

ABCNews.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:26:47 -0500

The First Lady visited the Department of Energy as part of her wider federal agency tour throughout the city. This visit was a little different than her dozen past visits, as today Mrs. Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu played game show host.